C.—2

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The following is a statement showing the amount of pensions payable, in force, and granted to the 31st March, 1922 : — Amounts paid since inception : — £ Year ended 31st March, 1916 (five months) . . 1 ,509 Year ended 31st March, 1917 .. .. .. 8,060 Year ended 31st March, 1918 .. .. .. 13,275 Year ended 31st March, 1919 .. .. .. 13,270 Year ended 31st March, 1920 .. .'. . . 16,652 Year ended 3.lst March, 1921 .. .. .. 26,972 Year ended 31st March, 1922 . . .. . . 31,212 £110,962 Number of new grants for 1921-22 . . . . . . 78 Annual value of new grants .. .. .. £5,538 Number of pensions in force at 31st March, 1922 . . 506 Annual value of pensions in force at 31st March, 1922 £31,505 Average pension payable per annum . . .. £62 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1922. . 868 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1922, includes the following : To unmarried miners, 151 ; to married miners, 302 ; to widows of miners, 415. STATE COLLIERIES. Coal-control Department and State Firewood Depot. The bulk of the activities of the Coal-control Department and the Firewood Depot were transferred to the Mines Department on the Ist September, 1921, and as the result of such, transfer considerable economies were effected, which are estimated at £4,350 per year. The activities of the Firewood Depot will be brought to a close within a few weeks. James Mine. The underground development has been continued during the year, and the erection of the coal-tipping and screening plant and the installation of the machinery connected therewith have been completed. The mine sawmill, which was situated at Dunollie for many years, has been dismantled and re-erected at Runanga in a central position for supplying timber to both the James and Liverpool Collieries. Macdonald Mine. As already announced on more than one occasion to honourable members, the Government has decided to cease developing this colliery, arid, with the exception of tree-planting, work was stopped in March, 1922. Since that time arrangements have been made to dispose of a part of the plant, and efforts are being made to sell the remainder. As I have already informed honourable members, the Government was compelled to close the mine owing to the enormous increase in the estimated cost of developing and equipping the colliery, including the erection of houses, drainage, and lighting, as well as the construction of a railway-line, and also owing to the acute financial position prevailing. A total area of 37| acres has been planted with trees suitable for mining purposes, at a cost of £511. Output and Sales, Liverpool Colliery. The operations of the State coal-mines and State coal-depots for the year ended 31st March, 1922, are briefly reviewed hereunder :— The only colliery producing coal was the Liverpool Colliery. The gross output for the year was 137,908 tons, as compared with 153,722 tons for last year, a